Machine tool



Feb. 8, 1944. J, J VAN HAMERSVELD 2,340,912

MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 20, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet l V QT; villi INVENTOR..foH/v fl! VAw Ramses r540 ATTORNEY5 1944- J. J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD2,340,912

MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 20, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Y JOHN f/Y[Kw/644M525 van ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944.

J. J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD MACHINE TOOL 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov.20

INVENTOR. JH/Y f/Y KM Hansesvao fm 74W 31 M ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944. .1.J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD 2,340,912

MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 4 20, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JbH/Yf/YVfl/YHQMEPSVEZO 7 BY WW M ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1944.

J. J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD 2,340,912

MACHINE .TOOL

Filed NOV. 20, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5' INVENTOR. jbH/Y f/Y Vfl/Yf/nmsesrsza Jana) 71W 1:

ATfORNEYfi 1944. .1. J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD 2,340,912

MACHINEITOOL Filed Nov. 20, 1940 7 Sheets -Sheet 6 INVENTOR. JZJH/v f/YM/v Hana-57540 ATTORNEYS lif 1944- JFJ, N. VAN HAMERSVELD 2,340,912

MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 20, i940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 @QDQDQDQDQ) comm-m5INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1944 2,340,912 momma TOOL John 1.. N.

Van Hamersveld. Cleveland Heights Ohio, assignor to The Warner & SwaseyCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 20,1940, Serial No. 366,437

8 Claims.

This invention relates to machine tools and particularly to an improvedmechanism by which the rates of movement of a part of the machine toolwhich is adapted to be moved at different rates may be selected orpreselected for all the different steps of a work cycle.

Machine toolshaving selecting or preselecting mechanism by which therates of movement of a part of the machine tool, such as the spindle,the cross-slide, the cross-slide carriage, or the turret saddle, may beselected or preselected are well known. Examples of such machine toolshaving selecting or preselecting mechanism are the machine toolsdisclosed in-Patent'No. 2,068,- 552 issued January 19, 1937, in the nameof Max E. Lange, and Patent No. 2,169,748 issued August 15, 1939, in thename of John J, N. Van Hamersveld.

The selecting or preselecting mechanism as illustrated in these patentsand others well known in the art involves members which are adapted tobe given an indexing movement to select-or preselect the rate for themovable part and then an actuating movement to obtain the selected orpreselected rate by shifting the desired element or elements of thetransmission utilized in imparting different rates of movement to themovable part.

Generally the indexible members are indexed manually and are then giventheir actuating movement to effect the change in the rate of movement,by the movement of a control lever.

In the Lange patent referred to the indexiblemembers are rotated bypower and the rotative movement of the indexible members is stopped bythe manual disengagement of said power at the time said indexiblemembers have reached a desired position, and in that respect themechanism of the Lange patent might be included in the class or groupwherein the indexing is accomplished manually.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a selectingor preselecting mechanism by which th indexing of the indexible membersis facilitated and to provide an actuating and controlling means forimparting indexing movements of such a nature that after a rate ofmovement has been selected or rates of movement for several or all ofthe steps of the work cycle have been preselected by the actuation ofbutton switches or equivalent members, the indexing movement ormovements will take place automatically merely by the manipulation ofthe control lever.

. A further object is to accomplish the automane indexing of theindexible members by electrical means associated with the selecting orpreselecting elements, such as push button switches, designed to beactuated to select or, preselect the rates of movement for all the stepsof the work cycle.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certaindetails oiconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts whichwill be described in the specification and set forth in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, the invention is illustrated byway of example only as applied to the transmission for changing therates of movement of the work spindle of a machine tool, and in theembodiment illustrated provision is made for imparting twelve difierentrates of movement to the work spindle for a work cycle composed of sixoperating steps. It is to be understood, however, that the particularnumberv of rates of movement which may be imparted to the work spindleand also the number of steps ofthe work cycle are also by way of exampleonly.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine tool here illustrated as aturret lathe; h

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the transmission employed in the headof the lathefor giving the spindle the desired rate of movement;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the headillustrating the indexible members here shown as so-called spoolstogether with the mechanism for operatively connecting the spools to theshiftable elements of the trans- -mission;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the shiftable members andsome of the associated parts in a difierent position than illustrated inFig. 3 and also omitting some of the parts of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3taken substantially along the irregular line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5a is a top plan view of the control lever and its mounting, andindicates by dotted lines the positions of the lever for forward andreverse rotation of the spindle and by full lines its neutral position;

Fig. 6 is a tranverse sectional viewsubstantially along the line 6-6 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detached view of part of the mechanism of Fig. 5 as viewedfrom the left;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional Fig. 3, with the parts inFigs. and 11 in diferent positions than in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detached view on an enlarged scale showing some of themechanism illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 13 is a similar view with the parts in a different position than inFig. 12 and illustrating some parts omitted from Fig. 12;

Figs. 14 and 14a (the latter being a continuation of Fig. 14) constitutea diagrammatic view of the switch mechanism, the electromotive devices,and the circuit connections between the same;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the motive devicesillustrated in Fig. 14a; Fig. 16 is a view of the switch panel for themanually operated switches indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 14 and14a; and

Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional view of the switch panel substantiallyalong the line of Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 I have shown my inventionapplied to a turret lathe, but of course it will have utility in manyother different types of machine tools. Furthermore, while I have shownmy invention applied to the work spindle of a lathe,'it may, as beforestated, be applied to other parts which are to be actuated at diflerentrates, as, for example, the cross-slide carriage, the cross-slide, andthe turret saddle. Accordingly, the term "movable part of a machinetool" as used herein will apply to any movable part which is to bedriven or moved at varying rates of speed or feed, such as those abovementioned or comparable parts of any machine tool in connection withwhich the invention finds utility.

The lathe illustrated in Fig. 1 has a bed 26, a headstock 2|, across-slide carriage 22 having a transversely movable cross-slide 23,and a turret saddle 24 carrying a turret 25. The work spindle 26 whichis supported by the headstock 2| is adapted to be driven at varyingspeeds by a transmission to which power may be applied in any suitablemanner, but in this instance by means of a belt pulley 21 secured to ashaft 28. This shaft is provided with a shiftable clutch member 29 whichis splined to: the shaft and arranged -on opposite sides of this clutchmember are suitable cooperating clutch members 36 and 3| which arefreely rotatable on shaft 26 and which together with the clutch member26 constitute in this instance friction clutches, either part 36 or part3| being adapted to be frictionally' enaged with or otherwise clutchedto the clutch member for either forward or reverse rotation in the wellknown manner.

The clutch member 56 has fixed to it a gear 32 for forward rotation ofthe spindle and the clutch member 3| has fixed to itagear "for reverseto the shaft 48.

direction. Forward rotation is transmitted from shaft 26 to shaft 54from gear 52 to gear 51 fixed to shaft 34.

a three-step gear cone consisting of-gears 36, 39, and 40 which areadapted to engage, respectively, gears 4|, 42, and 43 fixed to a shaft44 of the transmission. By shifting the gear cone composed of gears 36,39, and 40 to its three different positions on shaft 34, shaft 44 can bedriven at three different rates either in forward or reverse. Rotationis transmitted from shaft 44 to a sleeve 45 which turns loosely on thework spindle 26 by the engagement of gear 4| on shaft 44 with a gear 46carried by sleev 45. The sleeve 45 also has a second gear 41.

Rotation is transmitted from the sleeve 45 to a shaft 48 of thetransmission which shaft has a rear two-step gear cone composed of ears49 and 56 and a front two-step gear cone composed of gears 5| and 52both gear cones being splined The gear 46 on sleeve 45 is adapted tomesh with gear 49 of the rear two- 'step gear cone when the two-stepgear cone is in one position, and gear 41 is adapted to mesh with gear56 when the gear cone is in the other position. The gear 5| of theforward two-step gear cone is adapted to mesh with gear 53 secured tothe work spindle 26 and the gear 52 of this gear cone is adapted to meshwith the gear 54 which also is secured to the work spindle 26. Thus bythe transmission herein illustrated the spindle can be rotated either ina forward or in a reverse direction at twelve different rates.

The headstock has a single control lever 55 which is adapted for bothhorizontal and vertical movements, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 5a, andis pivctally supported in a rockable housing 56 which is carried by thecover 51 of the headstock, the cover being shown in Fig. 1 and a poretion thereof in Fig. 5. There is joumaled in the housing 56 a shaft 58which carries the control lever 55 and carries also a short downwardlyex tending lever 59 for a. purpose later to be described. when-thecontrol lever 55 is moved vertically, thelever 59 is rocked in avertical plane, and when the control leveris swung horizontally fromneutral position, designated N in Fig. 5a, to the dash lin position Ffor forward rotation of the spindle or to the dash line position R forreverse rotation of the spindle, it rocks the housing 56 in the cover51.

The housing 56 has a downwardly extending portion 66 having a bearingportion 6| engaged by a bearing 62 (Fig. 5) which is supported by orforms apart of the cover 51. Below the bearing portion 6| there issecured to the lower end of the extension a short lever 63 which, asclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, engages in the groove of a yoke sleeve64 carrying a yoke 65 which engages in the circular groove of the clutchmember 26 which, as before stated, is slidably mounted on the shaft 26.Thus. by horizontal rocking of the control lever 55 from the full lineposition to the dash line position F or R, this clutch member is engagedwith either the clutch member 36 or the clutch member 5| for forward orreverse rotation of the work spindle 26, andof course when the controllever is in its neutral position indicated as the N position, themovable clutch member is disengaged from both the clutch members 36 and2| and the work spindle is then stationary.

Before describing the vertical movements of the control lever 55 and theparts actuated thereby, I will refer to the indexible members of theselecting or preselecting mechanism whichmembers are adapted to beindexed and then actuated to shift the movable elements of thetransmission. Although different forms ofindexible members may beemployed, as will be obvious from a consideration of the Van Hamersveldpatent mentioned above, I prefer to employ and have here illustrated theindexible members in the form of spools having on their adjacent endsprojections of difierent lengths, as fully described in the Lange patentreferred to above. Inasmuch as the indexible members need not be in theform of spools, these parts are defined in the claims as mechanicalmeans" adapted to be indexed and then actuated.

The mechanical means, in this instance the two spools which aredesignated 66 and 51, are splined to a shaft 68 which shaft andassociated parts are supported in suitable parts of the cover 51, asclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.. The spools 66 and 61 are shown spreadapart or in their indexing position in Fig. 4 and, in their innermost oractuating position in Fig. 3. The shaft 88 is adapted to be rotated orindexed to bring about the indexing of the spools 88-and 61. The spoolsare provided at their outer ends with circular grooves and the groove ofthe spool 88 is engaged by a yoke 69 which is integral with a sleeve 10slidable on a stationary rod 1| carried by the cover 51. The sleeve 19has a socket which is engaged by the spherical portion 12 of one arm 13of a. bellcrank lever 14 mounted on a bearing pin 15 carried by thecover 51. This lever 14 has an arm 16 the free end of which is providedwith a bifurcation or forkengaging in the circular groove of a bushing11 and in this bushing is housed the ball portion of the relativelyshort lever 59 previously described as being carried by the shaft' 58 towhich the control lever 55 is secured.

The other spool 61 has a circular groove which is engaged by a yoke 19-integral with the sleeve 89 slidable upon a stationary rod 8| which,like the companion rod H, is mounted in the cover 51.

The two sleeves 10 and 89 are provided intermedi-' ate their ends withslots in which are engaged shoes 82 and 83 which are pivotally supportedby an equalizing bar'84 having a centrally arranged bearing pin 85suitably supported by the cover 51.

' Thus by reason of this equalizing bar 84 any slider end of the shortlever 59 with the forked end' of the arm 18 of the bell-crank It whosearm 13 is connected to the sleeve 10, as already described.

' Having described the manner in which the spools are shifted endwisetoward and away from each other by the vertical "movement of the controllever, I will next briefly describethe manner in which the endwisemovement of the spools causes movement to be imparted to the shiftableelements of the transmission, in this instance the three gear cones, tobring about the different rates of movement, inthis case twelve innumber, which may be imparted tothe movable part of the machine tool, inthis instance the work spindle.

By reference to Fig. it-will beseen that between-the spools and the.projections thereof there is arranged a pin 88 which is carried by alever 81 fixed to a vertical shaft 88 which may be will shift the reartwo-step gear cone. Additionsupported by the cover 51 in the mannerclearly illustrated and described in the Lange patent referred to above.Fixed to the lower end of shaft 88 is a lever 89 which has a sphericallyshaped outer end, as shown in Fig. 3, which, as illustrated in Fig. 5,is received within the slot of an arm 89 of a sleeve 9| slidable on arod 92 carried by the cover 51. This sleeve has an arm 93 whose lowerend is bifurcated and straddles the gear 39 of the three-step gear cone.Obviously, therefore, any movement given to the pin 86 and to the lever.81 will produce a sliding movement of the three-step gear cone on shaft34. Also between the spools is a pin 94 which is carried at the outerend of a lever arm 95 having a hub 98 adapted to turn freely on theshaft 88. The free end of the lever 95 carries a shoe 91 which straddlesthe gear of the rear two-step gear cone of the transmission. It will benoted that when the pin 94 carried by the lever 95 is shifted by thespools, the movement imparted to the lever 95 ally, there is between thetwo spools a third pin 98 which is carried by a bent lever 99 (see Fig.4) which has a hub portion I09 free to rock on the shaft 88. The'upperend of the pin 98 forms the bearing for one end of a link IIII (see Fig.4) whose other end is pivotally connected to a lever I02 fixed to avertical shaft I93 carried by the cover51 (see Fig. 6).

has fixed to it a lever I84 carrying at-its free end front two-step gearcone. that when the pin 98 carried by the bent lever 99 is shifted bythe spools the movement of the pin is transmitted by the link I9I to thelever I92 and by the rocking of shaft I03 and of lever I04 movement isthen transmitted to the shoe I95 in the Lange patent.

which, as before stated, 5| on the shaft 48.

Thus it will be seen that the projections on the spools, after saidspools have been indexed to a predetermined position, will shift thepins and the mechanisms connected thereto and thus shifts the front gearcone the gear cones willbe shifted to their various operating positionsin the manner fully described I will now refer to the mechanismwhichmore directly involves they present invention,'i. e., the indexing ofthe spools. As a prelude to the detailed description of this mechanism Imight say that, in accordance with the present embodiment of theinvention, the actual indexing movement of the spools is impartedthereto by power 3 means and means is provided for stopping the spoolsin their predetermined indexed positions so that-when subsequentlyactuated they will impart the desired-rate of-movement for a given stepof the work cycle or for eacli of the different steps of the work cycleif that mode of operation isdesired. In connection with this power 8means I prefer to employ a series of electromotivefdevices each of whichis adapted to stop the indexing movement of the spools for a given rateof movement. Additionally, I. employ a plurality form of push butofswitches, preferably in the ton switches, which are manually actuatedtodetermine' which of these electromotive devices is to beenergized toobtain a predetermined-rate of movement for the movable part. It is:- afeature of the present. invention that these switches canbe individuallymanually actuated just prior to or during a step of the operating cyclebut preferably during the setting up of the machine.- The switches maybe actuated to effect or bring about The lower end of the shaft It willbe understood the desired rates of movement for the movable part for allof the steps of a work cycle, after which throughout the cycle nofurther attention need be paid by the operator to the selection of theproper rates of movement other than the manipulation of the main controllever the chief function of which is to control the clutch for forwardor reverse movement of the part and to actuate the spools. It might befurther stated that if a series of similar work pieces are tobemachined, when the operator once sets the required switches, the cycleof operations may be repeated over and over without any furthermanipulation of the switches or other attention thereto on the part ofthe operator.

The power means for rotating or indexing the spools consists in thisinstance of a motor, preferably an electric motor I05, mounted on asupport in the form of a small housing I06 which is carried by the cover51. This motor has at its inner end a pinion I01 which engages a gearI08 fixed to a short shaft I09 one end of which has a bearing in thesupport I05 and the other end of which has a bearing in a bore of theshaft 68 which supports the spools so that it may freely rotate in theshaft 68 without imparting any movement to it. It might be stated thatas long as the machine is in operation this motor I 05 remains inoperation but its movement is utilized only at intervals when it isdesired that the spools be given an indexing movement. The rotativemovement of the motor and of the gear I is imparted to the shaft 68 whenit is to be indexed by the following mechanism:

It will be observed that on the end of the shaft 68 adjacent the motor Ia head or enlargement H0 is provided. Mounted loosely on this head H0 isa. shaft driving member III which freely rotates on the head II 0 whenthe shaft 68 is held against rotation in the manner to be referred toand which is designed to frictionally rotate the head H0 and the shaft68 when the shaft 68 is free to rotate. In this instance, the frictiondriving means between the member III and the head H0 is in the form ofspring actuated friction shoes II2 each of which.

is housed in a socket in the head IIO. It will be observed that theshort shaft I00 is provided with a ratchet II3 which is adapted to beengaged by a pawl Ill carried by-the driving member I II. The hook ofthe pawl is designed to be moved into interlocking engagement with atooth of the ratchet by a spring-pressed plunger H5, and as long as thepawl engages a tooth of the ratchet, the driving member III will berotated. Means is provided to disengage the pawl III from the ratchetH3, and this means includes an electromotive device, in this instance, asolenoid III;

which is carried by the support I00, as bestshown in Fig. 3, and whichhas a winding in a circuit to be referred to presently and a plunger IIIwhich normally projects in the path of the tail II 8 of the pawl H4 soas to cause the disengagement of the pawl from the ratchet II3 aftersaid driving member III which carries the pawl II4 has made onerevolution Thus it will be seen that the mechanism just described formsa one-rotation clutch for giving the shaft 68 a rotative movement.

To stop the indexing movement of the spools for the different rates ofmovement for the movable part afforded by the transmission, I employ aseries of electromotive devices preferably in the form of solenoids II8,the number of solenoids being equal to the number of different 76 ratesof movement. As shown in Figs. 3 and 14a,

the solenoids II! ,are circumferentially spaced around a disk I20 havinga single tooth I2I, the disk being secured to the shaft 68. Thesolenoids are equally spaced around the axis of the shaft and they areradially arranged as illustrated in Fig. 14a.

Normally the solenoids II9 are deenergized, in which case the inner endsof the plungers of the solenoids are out of the circular path ofmovement of the tooth I2I of the disk I20 and they are designed to beseparately energized and when one of them is energized the inner end ofits plunger will be drawn radially inward so as to project into the pathof movement of tooth I2I. By reference to Fig. 15 it will be seen thateach solenoid II9 consists of a winding I22 and a plunger I23. The innerend of the plunger I23 is made of non-magnetic material and the outerportion of magnetic material so that when the solenoid is energized theplunger will be moved radially inward. The solenoids I I9 are secured toa suitable annular support; I24 (Figs. 3 and 15) which is carried by thecover 51. It will be observed that the support I24 is provided withanopening I25 for the outer portion of the plung- 1 er, and in thisopening a spring I26 is provided between the enlarged outer end of theplunger and the solenoid body I2I. The function of this spring is tonormally hold the plunger in its re-, tracted or outer position, andwhen the solenoid is energized the plunger is moved radially inward, asbefore stated, against the pressure of the spring I26 so that as soon asthe solenoid is deenergized the spring will restore the plunger to itsnormal retracted position.

Before describing the manner in which the solenoids are selectively orindividually energized, I might state that there is provided on theouter end of the shaft 68, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a handwheel I28 bywhich the spools may be indexed manually if desired, as, for example,during the setup of the machine.

For the energization of the solenoids individually and in the desiredsequence and at the proper times during the work cycle, I employ aseries of switches including a step-by-step switch I 29 shown in Figs,5, 12, 13, and 14, and a series of manually operable switches preferablyin the form of push button switches I30. Before describing thestep-by-step switch I29 it might be stated that the push button switchesare preferably arranged in horizontal rows, there being in each row asmany of these switches as there are rates of movement for they-movablepart afforded by the transmission and there being as many rows as thereare steps in the work cycle. I

By reference to Figs. 14, 16, and lily-it will be seen that in thisinstance the switches I30 are supported by a panel I3I which is carriedby the cover 51 so as to be readily accessible to and within sight ofthe operator when standing in front of the head of the machine. Each ofthese switches includes apush button plunger I32. These plungers arenormally in their outer- .most positions, and one in each horizontal rowis adapted to be pushed inward for the predetermined rate of movementfor one step in the workpanel I3 I.

' the medium Each of these switches has a contact portion plunger, andwhen it is pushed inward to its innermost position it is adapted toengage contact I34 and contact I35. The contact I34, as best shown inFig. 14, is a short contact individual to a switch whereas contact I35is a relatively long bar contact which functions for all the switches ina vertical row. It will be understood, of course, that the panel itselfwill either be formed of insulating material or be suitably insulatedfrom the various contacts I34 and the contact bars I35 as well as thecontact portions I33, as is well understood in the art. The buttons I32of the switches have inward extensions I36 which are frictionallyengaged by springs I31 which are carried by the panel to hold them intheir innermost or outermost positions and preferably the ends of thesesprings engage in circular grooves I38 near the inner ends of theplungers so as to positively hold the plungers in their normal outermostpositions,

In the normal operation of the machine and during the setup of themachine preliminary to machining a work piece having, let us assume,portions which are to be machined during a work cycle of six steps, theoperator will push in one button in each horizontal row of buttons foreach step of the work cycle, and this can be done very conveniently andwithout likelihood of error for the horizontal rows are numbered at thelefthand side of the panel in accordance with the successive steps ofthe cycle.

After the last work cycle has been completed for a series of similarwork pieces to be machined and a new setup is required for new work, thebuttons must be restored to their outermost positions; With the presentinvention this can be done very conveniently for the reason that Iprovide for each horizontal row of push buttons a restore bar I39 whichis horizontally supported by the panel I3I, as clearly shown in Fig. 17.This bar has a series of camming portions or teeth I40 and each bar isadapted to be given a movement by a so-called restore button I4I, one ofwhich is provided for each step of the work cycle, these restore buttonsbeing arranged in a vertical row near the left-hand end of the Bydepressing the restore button I4I horizontal row 'of buttons through ofa bell-crank I42 pivotally supported on the panel and having a pin andslot connection with the restore bar I39, the bar will be moved to theright as the same is viewed in Fig. 17 so that any button in thishorizontal row will be cammed outwardly by one of the camming portionsI40 of the bar. When the operator removes his finger from the restorebutton I 4I the bar is immediately restored to its former position, i.e., moved to the left by a spring I43.

Not only are the restore buttons and restore bars useful for restoringthe buttons after the last work cycle for a given number of work pieceshas been completed, but they are useful also during the setup of themachine as changes may be made in the selection of the rates of movementin order to arrive at the most desirable rate of movement for a givenstep in the work cycle, and in that even the restore buttons and restorebars are conveniently employed to restore the buttons for a given totheir outermost positions.

The step-by-step switch I29 includes a contact bar I44, a row ofindividual contacts I45, and a bridging contact I46. There are as manyof the individual contacts I 45 as there are'steps in the work cycle,and they and the contact bar I 44 will of course be insulated from thethe cover I51 by which they are supported. As shown in Fig. 14, thebridging contact engages the contact bar I44 and the left-hand contactI45, and by the mechanism shortly to be described, the bridging contactI46 is adapted to be given a step-by-step movement to bring itsuccessfully into contact with the different individual contacts I45.Obviously the number of step-by-step movements which are given to thebridging contact can be varied and will depend upon the number of stepsin the work cycle, and after the last step of the work cycle has beencompleted, this bridging contact I46 will be restored to its left-handposition shown in Fig. 14.

The control lever 55 is employed to impart the step-by-step movement tothe bridging contact I46 of the switch I29. For an understanding of themeans by which this is acomplished reference will be had to Figs. 3, 9,10, 11, 12, and 13. It was previously stated that the bell-crank lever14 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 by the connection of the arm I6 with theshort lever 59 causes actuation of the spools 66 and 61 by moving themend- The movement of the bellcrank 14 is utilized in this instance toactuate the step-by-step switch and to accomplish this there isconnected to the arm I6 of the bell-crank 74 a link I41 connected to oneend of a lever I48 rockably mounted on a bearing pin I49 carried by thecover 51. The other end of the lever I48 has a forked connection to arod I50 the forward end of which is pivotally connected to a pawlcarrier I5I carrying a pivoted actuating pawl I52 which is adapted toengage a ratchet I53. This ratchet is secured to a shaft I54 having athreaded portion I 55, this thread having a steep angle andbeing-engaged by a sleeve I56 having a threaded contact I46 from onecontact I45 to the nextcontact I 45. It might be here stated that thereis associated with the ratchet I53 a holding pawl I51 mounted on abearing pin I58 carried by the cover. A spring tends to move the pawlinto ratchet holding engagement so as to hold the ratchet againstreverse rotation.

It will be understood that when an upward movement is given to thecontrol lever from its lowermost position the rocking movement of thelever arm I48 will move the pawl carrier I5I from the position shown inFig. 10 to' the position shown in Fig. 9, thus restoring the pawl I52 toits former position.

Carried by one end of the shaft I54 is a dial I59 having'spaced numeralson its periphery corresponding to the number of steps of'the work cycle,

and associated with this dial but .mounted on a v stationary part of thecover is a pointer I60 (see Fig. l) 'whichby cooperation with theparticular numeral on the dial in line with it will always-- give avisual indication of the particular step of.

the work cycle then being carried out or about to be carried out.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 3 that there is provided'a rattrap spring I6I one end of which is supported by the cover 51 and theother end of which is connected to the shaft I54. This spring is woundup during thestep-by-step movement imparted to the shaft I54 as thevarious steps of the work cycle are followed through.

It might be here stated that the function of this spring I6I is torotate the shaft I54 in the reverse direction so as to restore the partsfrom the posi as soon as this occurs the rat trap spring I 6| rotatesthe shaft I54 in the reverse direction to which is was previously turnedwhen giving the step-by-step movements, and. the effect of this; is

engage the collar I69 onthe rod I62 and move it outwardly up against thewall of the cover, as in Fig. 12, so as to disengage the cam portionI10'from the lower ends of the pawls I52 and I51 and thus allow them tomove inwardly in contact with the ratchet I53, as shown in Fig. 10

13. This rod I62 has a threaded portion I64 tion but the sleeve is freeto slide in the bore of the lug I61.

There is secured to the rod I62 a-collar I69 which normally engages theinner face of the wall of the cover 51, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and13, and the rod I62 further has a conically shaped cam portion I10 whichnormally lies just forwardly or outwardly of the lower ends or tails HIand I12 of the two pawls I52 and I51 which normally engage the ratchet,as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. One end of the sleeve I66 is providedwith a shoulder portion I13 which when the last step of the work cyclehas been completed is engaged by the lug I65 of the sleeve I56 (as shownin Fig. 13) The sleeve I66 during the setup of the machine will be setor adjusted to a given position depending upon the number of I11 andclose the switch I14.

steps in the work cycle by turning the knob I63,

and when the last step of the cycle is initiated, the lug I65 will bebrought up against the shoulder I13 of the sleeve I66 as illustrated inFig. 13. Initially, i. e., when the first step of the work cycle isinitiated, the lug I65 will be located away from the shoulder I13 adistance equivalent to the distance of travel of the switch contact I46over the individual contacts I45. In this instance, the sleeve I66 hasbeen set for a. work cycle of six steps since in Fig. 13 the switchcontact I46 is engaging the last contact I and the lug I65 is up againstthe shoulder I13 of the sleeve I66.

The work cycle now having been completed, the parts are to be restoredto their previous positions and this is accomplished by the operator Igiving the control lever an additional movement to be described asthough the step-by-step switch gagement of the lug I 65 with the.shoulder I13 on the sleeve I66. This movementcauses the cam portion I10of the rod I62 to spread the lower ends I" and I12 of the two pawls I52and I51 so as to bring the pawls out. of engagement with the ratchetI53, as shown in Fig. 11, and

The parts are now in position for repetition of the steps of the workcycle of the machine tool.

It might be here stated that at the will of the operator, the movablecontact of the stepby-step switch can be restored to its initial position by simply bumping the knob I63 0n the outer end of shaft I62. I t

The main control lever 55, in addition to actuating the 'clutch 29between the transmission and the source of power, to actuate the spoolsand to actuate the movable contact of the step-by step switch, performsone other function, namely, the temporary closing of a switch in thecircuit of the solenoid II6. This switch, which is shown in Figs. 3, 4,and 14, is designated I14. It includes two stationary contacts I15 and abridging contact I16 carried at the right-hand end of a rod I11supported in bearings I16 on the cover 51, and in this instance arrangedin line with the rod I50. When the rod I50 is given a movement to theright as viewed in Fig. 3, as occurs during one portion of the controllever movement to be explained, the rod I50 will move the rod It mightbe here stated, however, that in the normal functioning of the mechanismthe switch I14 is closed only momentarily, i. e., just for sufficienttime to energize the solenoid I I6 and cause the retraction of theplunger II1 thereof so as to allow the one rotation clutch to function.When the rod I50 moves in the reverse direction, the switch isimmediately opened by a spring I10 which in this instance is arrangedbetween one of the bearings I16 and a collar on the rod I11.

I will next describe the electrical circuits by which the variouselectrical devices are caused to function so as toproduce the resultsalready stated. Reference will now be had to Figs. 14 and 14a. It willbe noted that current is supplied by main conductors I and I8I shown atthe upper left-hand comer of Fig. 14. In the circuit there is preferablyprovided a hand switch I62 to render the circuits effective andineffective. Beyondthe hand switch the motor I05 is connected to themain conductors by conductors I63. Likewise, beyond the hand switch I62one of the conductors, in this'instance the positive conductor I60, isconnected by conductor I84 to the contact bar I44 of the step-by-stepswitch I26. The first contact I45 of the step-by-step switch I29 isconnected by conductors I and branch conductors I66 to the shortcontacts I34 01' the upper row of push button switches I30.

In like manner, the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth contacts I45of the step-by-step switch I29 are connected respectively to the shortcontacts I34 of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and

solenoids II9C, II9D,

2,340,912 7 conductors I92, conductor I93 and branch conswitch I82 withthe bridging contact I46 of ductors I94, and conductor I95 and branchconthe step-by-step switch in its first position, the ductors I96. Byreference to Figs. 14, 14a, and proper solenoid will be energized forthe rate of 16 it will be noted that the contact bar I35 of the first orleft-hand vertical row of push button switches I30 corresponding to thelowest rate or movement of the spindle, in this instance 26 R. P. M., isconnected by a conductor I91 to one terminal of the winding of thesolenoid II9'A which positions the spools for the lowest rate ofmovement, the other terminal of this solenoid being connected byconductor I98 to a conductor I99 connected to the main negativeconductor The contact bar I35 for the second vertical row of push buttonswitches I30 corresponding to the next higher rate of movement, in thisinstance 34 R. P. M., is connected by a conductor 200 to one terminal ofthe winding of the next solenoid II9B which positions the spools for thesecond rate of movement or 34 R. P. M., the other terminal of thissolenoid being connected by a conductor 20I to the conductor 199 whichis connected to\the negative conductor I 8| of the current supplycircuit. In like manner, the contact bars I35 of the vertical rows ofswitches corresponding to the third, fourth,

fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth ratesof movement are connected to one terminal of the windings of the II9E,II9F, II9G, II9H, II9I, II9J, II 9K, and II9L, these connections beingmade by conductors designated, respectively, 202, 203, 204, 205, 208,201, 208, 209, 2I0 and 2I I. The other terminals of the windings ofthese solenoids are connected, some to the conductor,

I98 or to the conductor 20I which conductors,

as already explained, are connected to the conductor I 99, while theremaining terminals are directly connected to the conductor I 99 whichleads to the negative side of the current supply circuit.

By referring to Fig. 14 it will be noted that the positive currentsupplying conductor I80 is connected by a conductor 2I2 to one terminalof the winding of solenoid II6, the other terminal of which is connectedby conductor 2I3 to one of the stationary contacts II of the switch I14,

the other stationarypontact of which is connected by a conductor 2I4 tothe negative current supplying conductor I8I.

The manner in which the actuation of the control lever brings about theproper functioning of the selecting or preselecting mechanism describedabove will now be explained. Let it be assumed that the work piece-is inthe machine ready to be machined and that the spindle is stationary forthe reason that the main clutch 29 is disengaged. Let it be assumedfurther that.

the control lever stands in its middle position as shown in Fig. 5a andin the intermediate dashline position shown in Fig. 5. Also let it beassumed that the operator has pushed in a plunger in each of the variousrows of push button switches for the desired rates of movement for thedifferent steps of the work cycle, that there are six steps-in thecycle, and that the operator has turned the knob I63 and the shaft I62to properly position the sleeve I66 as shown in Fig.

12. The operator will now close switch I82, and of course this switchcan remain closed during the entire performance of the machine assumingthat a number of similar work pieces are to be machined. Upon theclosure of the main solenoid II6 withdrawing the plunger II'I thereof toallow the one-rotation clutch to make one rotation. During the rotationof the clutch, the shaft 68 and, accordingly, the disk I20 will rotateuntil the tooth I 2I of the disk engages the plunger of the energizedsolenoid II 9J. Generally, the disk I20 when it is stopped by the en-.gagement of the tooth I 2I with the plunger of the solenoid will makeless than one complete revolution but nevertheless the one-rotationclutch will complete its revolution and for a portion of the revolutionthe driving member III of the clutch will slip relative tothe head IIOof the shaft 68. The spools have now been indexed to the requiredposition for the first step of the work cycle, it being remembered thatwhen this occurs the spools are in their outermost position shown inFig. 4 so that the index- Next the operator moves the control lever fromits intermediate position to itslowermost position shown in full linesin Fig. 5, and in moving the leverto this position the spools areactuated or moved toward each other on the shaft 68 or from the positionshown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus actuating pins 86,94 and 98 to shift the gear cones in the transmission to the positionrequired for the first rate of movement for the movable part in thefirst step of the cycle. During this same movement of the lever the pawlI52 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown inFig. 10, thus rotating the ratchet I53 a distance of one tooth whichrotates the shaft I54 sufliciently to move the bridging contact I46 ofthe step-by-step switch I29 to engage the next contact I45 correspondingto the second step of the work cycle. The effect of this is todeenergize the previous active solenoid I I 9J and to energize thesolenoid for the next step of the work cycle, it being remembered thatas soon as the bridging contact I46 is-shifted to the second contact I45current will flow through the push button switchin the second horizontalrow which has been closed' to give the desired rate of movement for thesecond step of the work cycle. The operator now moves the control leverhorizontally to engage the main driving clutch for either forward orreverse rotation'and the machining operation for the first step of thework cycle will now take place.

'At the completion of the first step of the work cycle the control leveris again moved horizontally to neutral position so as to disengage themain driving clutch 29. Then the controllever Fig. which restores thepawl I52 fromthe po- -sition shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown inFig. 9, and during this same movement of the control lever the spoolsare moved outward to the position shown in Fig. 4. Next he will againraise the lever to its uppermost position in Fig.

5 which closes the switch I14 and allows the one-rotation clutch to makeits rotation, thus indexing the spools or turning them to a positionwhere the tooth l2l engages the plunger of the then energized solenoid.The above procedure will be repeated for each of the difi'erent steps ofthe work cycle.

Thus it will be seen that for each of the successive steps of ,the workcycle, all that the operator is required to do is to move the controllever horizontally to disengage the main driving clutch and then move itup to its extreme upper succeeding step while one step of the work cycleis being performed, or,- if desired, he may select the rate of movementjust before the step is initiated, as by pushing in the plunger of thepush' button switch for the desired rate .of movement.

Also the manipulation of the control lever may be somewhat difierentfrom that utilized above. For example, in the above description it wasstated that the operator will move the control lever to its lowermostposition and then swing it horizontally to cause the main driving clutchto be engaged while the lever is in its lowermost position. Thisprocedure can be modified in the following manner: The operator can movethe control lever to its lowermost position and then back to itsintermediate position shown in Fig. 5, and then move it horizontally tocause the main driving clutch to be engaged. As a matter of fact, thehorizontal movement can be given to the lever when it is in any position(vertically considered) between its lowermost position shown in Fig. 5and its intermediate-position shown in this same figure.

Additionally, the operator, in moving the control lever upwardly fromthe intermediate position shown in Fig. 51;, may move it to its extremeupward position without stopping it in its intermediate position shownin Fig. 5.

- It was stated above that the operator may preselect a rate of movementfor the movable part for a succeeding step while one step of the workcycle is being performed, or, if desired, he may select the rate ofmovement after the termination of one step and just before the next stepis initiated, by pushing in the plunger for the push button switch forthe desired rate of movement. As a matter of fact, if the operatorproceeds in either of the ways just stated it is not essential before astep is initiated. He will then initiate the first step by pushing in abutton in the upper horizontal row. Then to obtain the speed for thenext step he will simply bump the knob I63 to spread the pawls I52 andI5! so as to restore the bridging contact I46 to its initial position asshown in Fig. 12, then push in the restore button for the uppermosthorizontal row to restore to its previous position the plunger of thepush button switch first initiated, and then push in the button for theswitch of the uppermost row which will give the rate of movement desiredfor the next step of the work cycle. This can be repeated for all thedifierent steps of the work cycle with the operator simply utilizing theswitches in one horizontal row. This procedure can be utilized toadvantage particularly if the operator is required to machine only asingle work piece or. a plurality of work piecesof different forms eachof which requires rates of movement different than those required forthe other forms.

Accordingly, I regard it within the scope of my invention to provide aselecting or preselecting mechanism which operates in accordance withthe principle of the present invention but utilizing a single row (orgroup) of push button switches for the control of the differentsolenoids H9 toobtain the difierent rates of movement for the varioussteps of the work cycle. In that case, the step-by-step switch can beeliminated since that switch is utilized and finds its utility only"these are well known in the art, they have not been illustrated in thedrawings.

Although I have illustrated the preferred construction and one whichoperates with high efficiency, I do not desire to be confined either tothe electrical or to the mechanical details of the herein illustratedselecting or preselecting mechanism but aim in my claims to cover allmodifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a machine tool havinga movable part,

- a change speed transmission for moving said rality of stops adapted tocooperate with said portion to position said member and said mechanismin various predetermined indexed positions correlated to the differentrates of movement of said part, electromotive devices for actuating saidstops. electric circuits for said devices, and separate manuallyactuated switches that he operate the switches in any more than I onehorizontal row, which, for convenience, may be assumed to be theuppermost horizontal row. For example, let it be assumed that theoperator .preselects or selects each of the difierent rates of movementfor the different steps of the work cycle, either while one step is inprogress or just for said devices arranged in said circuits.

2. In a machine-tool having a movable part, a change speed transmissionfor moving said part at different rates and including shiftableelements, a mechanism operatively associated with said shiftableelements and indexible to select or preselect the different rates ofmovement for said part and actuatable to obtain the selected orpreselected rates of movement; a member indexible with said mechanismand provided with an abutment portion, a plurality of spaced stopsarranged circumferentially of said member and adapted to cooperate withsaid portion to position said member and said mechanism in variouspredetermined indexed positions correlated to the difierent rates ofmovement for said part, electromotive devices for actuating said stops,electric circuits for said devices, and separate manually actuatedswitches for said devices arranged in said circuits.

3. In a machine tool having a movable part, a change speed transmissionfor moving -said part at diiierent rates and including shiitableelements, .a mechanism operatively associated with said shiftableelements and indexible to select or preselect the different rates ofmovement for said part and actuatable to obtain the selected orpreselected rates of movement therefor; a member indexible with saidmechanism and provided with an abutment portion, a plurality of stopsadapted to cooperate with said portion to position said member and saidmechanism in various predetermined indexed positions correlated to thedifferent rates of movement for said part, electromotive devices foractuating said stops, electric circuits for said devices, a

plurality of groups of manually 'actuated' switches, with the number ofgroups corresponding to the number of operative steps in a complete workcycle and with the number of switches in each group corresponding to thenumber of diflerent rates of-movement for said part, and switch meansfor placing selectively each group of switches in said circuits.

4. In a. machine tool having a movable part, a change speed transmissionfor moving said part at different rates and including shiftableelements, a power source, means for connecting and disconnecting saidpower source to and from said transmission, a control member for saidmeans, a mechanism operatively associated with said shiftable elementsand indexible to select or preselect the difierent rates of movement forsaid part and actuatable to obtain the selected or preselected rates ofmovement therefor; a member indexible with said mechanism and providedwith an abutment portion, a plurality of stops adapted to cooperate withsaid portion to position said member and said mechanism in variouspredetermined indexed positions correlated to the difierent rates ofmovement for said part, electromotive devices for actuating said stops,electric circuits for said devices, a plurality of groups of manuallyactusaid drive to impart a predetermined movement to said mechanism;said means including an electromotive device and a switch forcontrolling.

said device, a member indexible with said mechanism and provided with anabutment portion, a plurality of stops adapted to cooperate with saidportion to position the said member and said mechanism in variouspredetermined indexed positions correlated tothe different rates ofmovement for said part, electromotive devices for actuating said stops,electric circuits for said last devices, a plurality of groups of atedswitches for said devices with the groups of switches corresponding innumber to the number of operative, steps in a complete work cycle andwith the switches in each group corresponding in number to the number ofdifferent rates of movement for said part, switch means for placing eachgroup of switches selectively in said circuits, and operativeconnections between said switch means and said control member.

5. In a machine tool having a movable part. a change speed transmissionfor moving said part at diflerent rates and including shiftable.elements a mechanism operatively associated with said shiftableelements and indexible to select or preselect the diflerent rates ofmovement for said part and actuatable to obtain the selected orpreselected rates of movement therefor, a power drive for indexing saidmechanism and including releasable means for controlling separatemanually actuated switches for controlling said last devices, saidgroups corresponding in number to the number of operative steps in aWork cycle with the switches in each group corresponding in number tothe number of different rates of movement for said part, switch meansfor selectively placing each of said groups of switches in saidcircuits, a control member, and operative connections between saidcontrol member and said first named switch and said switch means. I

6. In a machine tool having a movable part, a, change speed transmissionfor moving said part at difierent rates and including shiftableelements, a power source, means for connecting and disconnecting saidpower source to and from said transmission, a control member for saidmeans, a mechanism operatively associated with said shiftable elementand indexible-to select or preselect the difierent rates of movement forsaid part and actuatable to obtain the selected or preselected rates ofmovement therefor, operative connections between said mechanism and saidcontrol member for actuating said mechanism, a power drive for indexingsaid mechanism including releasable means for causing said drive toimpart a predetermined movement to said mechanism; said last named meansincluding an electromotive device and a switch for controlling the same,operative connections between said switch and said control member, a

member indexible with said mechanism and provided with an abutmentportion, a plurality of stops adapted to cooperate with said portion toposition said last member and said mechanism in various predeterminedindexed positions correlated to the diflerent rates or movement for saidpart, electromotive devices for actuating said stops, electric circuitsfor said devices, a plurality ot'groups of separate manually actuatedswitches for controlling said last devices, said groups corresponding innumber to the number of operative steps in a work cycle with theswitches in each group corresponding in number to the number ordifferent rates of movement of said part, switch means for selectivelyplacing each of said groups of switches in said circuits, and operativeconnections between said switch means and said control member.

I. In a machine tool having a movable part, a change speed transmissionfor moving said part at different rates andincluding shiftable elements,a mechanism operatively associated with said shiftable elements andindexible to select or preselect the diflerent rates of move-' ment forsaid part'and actuatable to obtain the determined movement theretofsaidineans including an electromotive device, a switch' for controlling saiddevice, a member indexible with said mechanism and provided with anabutment portion, a plurality oi stops adapted to cooperate with saidportion to position said member and said mechanism in variouspredetermined indexed positions correlated to the diflerent rates ofmovement for said part, eiectrornotive devices for actuating said stops,electric circuits for said last devices, a plurality of groups ofseparate manually actuated switches for controlling said last devices,said groups corresponding in number to the number of diflerent operativesteps in a work cycle with the switches in each group corresponding innumber to the number oi. difierent rates of movement for said part,switch means for selectively placing each of said groups oi switches insaid circuits, a control member, and operative connections between saidcontrol member and said switch means and said first named switch suchthat movement or said control member sequentially actuates said switchmeans and said first named switch.

8. In a machine tool having a movable part. a change speed transmissionfor moving said part at different rates and including shiitableelements, indexible means operatively associated with said shiftableelements for selecting or preselecting the diflerent rates of movementfor said part, electrical means for controlling indexing movement orsaid last means, said electrical means including a plurality of groupsof manually actuated switches with the groups corresponding in number tothe number or diflerent operative steps in 'a work cycle, a step by stepmovable switch means for selectively rendering operative each or saidgroups of switches, mechanism for giving said switch means a step bystep movement, and manually operable means operatively associated withsaid mechanism for restoring said switch means from any position it maybe in to its initial position.

JOHN J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD.

